:) Yeah, when I had a convertible MINI, I used to but some huge things in it and go motoring down the road, quite a site. And I figured out I can fit 12 bags of mulch, 1 bag of potting soil, and 4 2-gallon plants per trip. :)
Yeah, I get a 10% military discount at both HD and Lowe's but I'm sure the employee discount is better than that. Thanks so much for the offer to help. And keep an eye out for the perfect specimen of Weeping Bald Cypress. If you have exactly the right one, I will figure out a way to get it to Frederick.
By the way, is there a difference between "Falling Waters" and "Cascade Falls" ? Or is that tow different names for the same variety ? Falling Waters seems to have a more upright grown pattern but I can't determine with any certainty based on my reading.
By the way #2, almost finished with that bed in the front of my house, pics coming soon.
By the way #3, I had my shutters repainted yesterday, a much softer blue. Again, pics comng soon.
I know... such a tease. HAHAHA
My Intro
CAM, Home Depot doesn't give any discounts to their employees. It's awesome that you get 10% off!
Not sure about Lowe's.
Home Depot doesn't ? How odd.
Yeah, I thank them at both stores every time I go there... which is often !
I vaguely remember a Lowe's employee telling me they get the same discount, 10%.
Our Military discount is also 10% at work, but the employee one is 20%. Good thing you're "family"! =)
I'll do some investigating on that tree for you, gladly. :)
Well now, Speedie... I feel honored to be adopted into your "family". :) Thank you for that and for keeping an eye out for me. I'm sure I'll find a way to return the favor in the future. :)
Okay, this thread is turning into a CAMfromMD update thread. So... I've been pretty busy this week. I'm going to share some before and after photos with you.
First, the masses have spoken, not only here but on another message board where I post. The shutters on the house were too loud and distracting. So... before and after.
And... I spent the last three days re-working that bed at the front of the house between the front door and the driveway. Out with the knockout roses, the few tulips, hyacinths, and the grasses that were in there. I did leave the Nandina though and I think they will work out fine in there.
I added the two Chionoides Rhodos and the Purple Passion Rhodo. Also added the two Goldflames I was talking about. Then I put in some annuals... a beautiful purple flowering plant called Angelonia (2)... a couple of large pots of white Dahlias, 4 Gerbera Daisies, 4 African Marigold.
So here are the before and afters:
I like the light blue, CAM!
Hi CAM, you sure have been busy, and in this heat too! I liked the before blue shutters, but I think the after lighter shade works really well. You'll probably be happier with it in the long run. The front bed rework looks good. It will be fun to look back at these pictures in a few years and compare how much it has grown.
There aren't many people with gardening interests where I work, but I seem to have found the few that are there. One of them stopped by my desk at lunch, and somehow we got on the topic of figuring out something for my side garden for the blooming lull I have between the peonies finishing in late May and the oriental lilies starting in July. She came up with several suggestions that I hadn't really thought of, so I'll be in search of some trellising and clematis.
Thanks, SSG... yeah, I think that soft and subtle color makes for a more appealing look.
I love angelonias! Looks good!
Nice.
I didn't want to say anything, but I did not like the BEFORE blue either. I like the new blue.
Jan, I stumbled across those at Lowe's. LOVE them... gorgeous flowers. And thank you.
Sally, that was sweet of you not to mention it before but trust me, you can tell me when I do something you don't like. I don't get offended easily and like the feedback, good or bad. If it's looks bad, I'd rather hear it so I can fix it (unless I don't agree then I'll just tell you so). :) I like the new color too, thank you.
Aspen, June is also when I get that blooming lull. What else did they recommend besides clematis?
Aspen, sorry... I somehow missed your response. Thank you for your feedback. Yes, when those plants mature, I think that bed will be gorgeous.
Interesting you mentioned Clematis. Just planted two at the base of my lamp post. Ordered two narrow trellises for them. One clematis is white, other is purple. Hoping they intertwine.
CAM, there aren't any Merrifield Garden Centers in Maryland, but you might get some ideas by looking at their lists of trees: http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com/Our-Plants/Trees.aspx
It includes Larix decidua pendula (Weeping Larch), for example.
Wow Dude, the new re-work looks great! I really like Angelonias as well, such a sweet happy little flower.
Looks like I'm in the minority about the shutters -- while I think the current (gentler) blue looks very nice, I loved the "pop" factor of the more vivid blue. I guess opinions are like noses - everybody's got one. ;)
Aspen, can you fit in some Tiger Lilies there for that lull? I'm not sure about where you live, but around here they start blooming in June. Then there's the ever-loved Day lilies. Or how about some Catmint? If you give it a trim mid-May, you should have new blooms in June. :)
Muddy, that Larch is GORGEOUS, what cool foliage!!!
Yeah, Speedie... even though your opinion carries the weight of 3 people, you're still vastly outnumbered. Funny thing, my one neighbor that really didn't care for the vivid blue, now tells me he had gotten used to them and liked them. Ha. Well, This soft blue is a bit easier on the eyes so I'm going to leave it this time. :)
Yeah, I can't remember running across Angelonias before and the Lowe's here had two of them so I snatched them up in a hurry. Not sure if I will plant them or leave them in their pots, maybe overwinter them and put them out again next year. Plus, I have them in the opposing front corners of the bed and one is right where the rain gutter down spout is positioned and I doubt it would want to get its feet that wet.
Thanks again for your input, always appreciated.
CAM, there's a nursery not far from you that you might like. It's called Susanna Farm and they specialize in trees, including very mature specimens and unusual cultivars.
I will look that up, SSG... thanks. I'm sure the Falling Waters Bald Cypress won't be easy to find. That might be very useful. Thanks again.
Hey, Speedie... I think those pics in direct sunlight made those shutters look a little more subdued than they really are.
I like what you've done with the gardens. The paint colors look very similar in terms of intensity on my monitor, old and new.
Have you tried Surreybrooke just west of Frederick on 40? They often have unusual plants. Also Thanksgiving Farms, on 85 outside of Buckeystown. I didn't see what you wanted on Stadler's list of shrubs.
ecnalg, there is a much more drastic difference in person, the first color was called Major Blue and they meant it. LOL It was a pretty intense blue. This one is called Cloudless and looks much lighter.
Thanks... I've only shopped at Meadows Farms, Lowe's and Dutch's Plant Farm so far. I always like to check out nurseries so I'll be sure to try those out. Appreciate it !
Going through Buckeystown is always a pretty ride anyway, and Thanksgiving Farms has acres and acres of trees and shrubs growing across the road from the nursery. Stadlers is just off 340 at the Mt. Zion Road exit. Very healthy looking plants and usually a good selection. Surreybrooke has a big OPEN flag flying, so it is easy to spot as you come by on 40. It is such a pretty ride on 40 after you are past the Golden Mile in Frederick and get into the wooded area, particularly when the mountain laurel is in bloom.
CAM, there is also a nursery in Urbana - Potomac Garden Center. I've been there once, but it is worth more trips for me and it is farily close to Frederick for you. Last year David and Pat gave me a heads up on their July 1/2 price sale, and seeing as how I can not pass up a sale, I went. They don't have a huge volume of plants, but the plants they do have are such a wide variety. I had only intended to get a 1/2 price Japanese maple, but came away with a few shrubs and lots of perennials - all things I had never really been able to find at other nurseries.
SSG, other things that we were talking about for that June lull is campanula, day lilies, and a window box full of annuals.
Terri is absolutely right! I had forgotten that one, but it also has lots of interesting goodies.
Wow, very helpful, everyone. You guys will have me broke by July. hahaha
Silly me... I just looked up Surreybrooke and I know exactly where it is, have passed it hundreds of times, just never took note of the name. Seems very small from the road, I guess that's deceiving.
Hey, Cam, that's what we are here for....plant enablers!!!! You have discovered our little secret. Hehehe
Hahaha.... Yeah, pretty soon I won't have any grass to mow ! ;)
Cam, I like the concept of a 3 tiered bed, with proper plant/color selection it should have good impact, and if you ever decide to not use annuals it would be easy to fill in with low growing perennials. Having the back tier formally pruned would be a nice canvas for the foreground plantings.
It was nice to meet you in person. I love it when our guys show up. Yesterday we attended a garden club luncheon and I was the only guy there.
Hey, Ric... it was nice to meet you Saturday, too. And yes, we need to keep some testosterone going at these club events. Maybe putting a ballgame on or serving beer would help. ;)
I think once those shrubs mature, it's going to be pretty tight in there and then yes, I'll probably round it out with the right size perennials and a few annuals here and there.
And keep in mind, I intend to put a bed on the other side of the sidewalk too, and have it extend down the side of the driveway. So you're not seeing a finished product yet... I believe it was John Paul Jones who first said, "I have not yet begun to garden"! Or something like that. hahaha
Definitely...something like that! Heehee.
Oh my YES, that is a much better view of the "true blue" of the shutters, and now I like it ever so much more! =)
Don't forget to let us know when you're ready for those low-growing perennials... we'll have you broke in no time LOTS of ideas for you! :)
I bet we could to that with some other historical quotes, Jan. Yeah....
I regret that I have but one garden to grow for my country !
Give us gardens or give us death !
Damn the torpedoes, full planting ahead !
Frankly Scarlett, leave me the hell alone and let me tend to my garden !
And all of them T-shirt worthy!
We are fond of violets, but they are popping up everywhere. Stop the violets!
T-shirt worthy indeed. Funny, DH has a buddy who does silk-screening; I think I'll get him to put "Give Me Gardening Or Give Me Death" on one for me. Thank you! =)
Those truly might end up being good items for your place to stock, Speedy, particularly if they could do some before Father's Day. Maybe a commission on them for CAM that can be redeemed for plants?
Yes... commissions or I'll have my copyright attorney all over you ! Hahaha
What an AWESOME idea!!!! Gardening T-shirts